This is such a broken world - we have to sit in this mess for awhile and grieve with the Annunciation community that has and will continue to suffer because of this shooting. And then we must all come together to fight for sane gun laws. It is time for ALL of us to get behind an assault weapons ban in this country (just for a start).
Just as an aside, I graduated from HS in FL in 1997. My youngest sister is 10 yrs younger and I remember asking about her day at elementary school. She mentioned they had a drill where they got under their desks or away from windows. I thought she was talking about the hurricane/tornado drills I had also done as a child. Then she said it was a school shooting drill. Columbine really changed everything... And nothing.
I so appreciated this article. As a Catholic, I do believe in the power of prayer. Prayer does not change the situation, it doesn’t help to undo the damage done, but it does cause us to stop and think and reflect on the part we may play in the violence that surrounds us in our country, community, and our society. It gives us an opportunity to connect with those who suffer and to consider how we can actively move toward change. I am not trying to be pious, but I don’t believe the offering of prayers is without merit. Again, I found this article to be on point. We need to take action.
We have to radically change our gun laws. Until the NRA lobbied to change it the second amendment was interpreted as allowing militias - aka The National Guard. Now any mentally unstable, murderous moron can arm themselves with as many assault rifles, shot guns and pistols as they can afford.
Love this: "sometimes suffering with those who suffer is the only real thing you can do." When my sister was dying of an incurable, terminal disease, I came across an article about being with those who are suffering. It said something like you're saying to your suffering loved one, "I'm in your boat." This boat on stormy waters. I can't calm the waters, but I'm in your boat with you. Just being present, demonstrating that you care for them.
Andrew, I will take your word for this: "It fixes the mind not on one’s ever-present political opponents but on the sufferers, in a discipline of sorrow and solidarity for those whose lives have been shattered by yet another attack. Dashing to social media to fire off hot takes after a tragedy feels good because it feels like doing something. But sometimes suffering with those who suffer is the only real thing you can do." However, it does not require prayer to do that very thing. There are many extremely empathetic people out here who do not have any religion, but are most certainly suffering with those who suffer.
Dirty foreigner over here. America's gun culture is completely insane. Your normalization of mass shootings is completely insane. Your inability to do anything about it is completely insane.
At this point? Just lean into it. Arm everyone. If you're not going to actually take the guns away (though maybe you SHOULD), and you're not going to vaccinate, and you're not going to give people healthcare, just solve EVERY problem with more guns.
Repeal 2A, or you're just waiting for the next one. And if you're fine with the latter option, just arm everyone.
Or ignore me. What right do I have to tell you to do anything, sitting here in my petrostate ivory tower? We foreigners have all stopped caring about your gun-fetish mass-casualty insanity, except inasmuch as it now informs our cost/benefit analysis when considering travel to your country.
If you didn't want to live this way, you'd DO something about it.
At risk of insulting many of the readers, prayers don’t do a damn thing simply because there is no God. At least not one that gives a damn. Simple.
At this point in time it's hard to look at people posting "thoughts and prayers" as little more than slacktivists with a religious tint.
This is such a broken world - we have to sit in this mess for awhile and grieve with the Annunciation community that has and will continue to suffer because of this shooting. And then we must all come together to fight for sane gun laws. It is time for ALL of us to get behind an assault weapons ban in this country (just for a start).
Just as an aside, I graduated from HS in FL in 1997. My youngest sister is 10 yrs younger and I remember asking about her day at elementary school. She mentioned they had a drill where they got under their desks or away from windows. I thought she was talking about the hurricane/tornado drills I had also done as a child. Then she said it was a school shooting drill. Columbine really changed everything... And nothing.
Beautiful Andrew. Thank you.
I so appreciated this article. As a Catholic, I do believe in the power of prayer. Prayer does not change the situation, it doesn’t help to undo the damage done, but it does cause us to stop and think and reflect on the part we may play in the violence that surrounds us in our country, community, and our society. It gives us an opportunity to connect with those who suffer and to consider how we can actively move toward change. I am not trying to be pious, but I don’t believe the offering of prayers is without merit. Again, I found this article to be on point. We need to take action.
We have to radically change our gun laws. Until the NRA lobbied to change it the second amendment was interpreted as allowing militias - aka The National Guard. Now any mentally unstable, murderous moron can arm themselves with as many assault rifles, shot guns and pistols as they can afford.
Thank you!
“But sometimes suffering with those who suffer is the only real thing you can do.”
That’s perfect. Thank you.
Well articulated
Love this: "sometimes suffering with those who suffer is the only real thing you can do." When my sister was dying of an incurable, terminal disease, I came across an article about being with those who are suffering. It said something like you're saying to your suffering loved one, "I'm in your boat." This boat on stormy waters. I can't calm the waters, but I'm in your boat with you. Just being present, demonstrating that you care for them.
Why can’t we say we prayed about it AND God told us to change the laws? ‘Let’s do both’ should be 2026 Dems slogan.
Thank you
Andrew, I will take your word for this: "It fixes the mind not on one’s ever-present political opponents but on the sufferers, in a discipline of sorrow and solidarity for those whose lives have been shattered by yet another attack. Dashing to social media to fire off hot takes after a tragedy feels good because it feels like doing something. But sometimes suffering with those who suffer is the only real thing you can do." However, it does not require prayer to do that very thing. There are many extremely empathetic people out here who do not have any religion, but are most certainly suffering with those who suffer.
Greg Abbott said you're a loser if you question any of the deaths in the Hill Country floods. only losers do that.
Dirty foreigner over here. America's gun culture is completely insane. Your normalization of mass shootings is completely insane. Your inability to do anything about it is completely insane.
At this point? Just lean into it. Arm everyone. If you're not going to actually take the guns away (though maybe you SHOULD), and you're not going to vaccinate, and you're not going to give people healthcare, just solve EVERY problem with more guns.
Repeal 2A, or you're just waiting for the next one. And if you're fine with the latter option, just arm everyone.
Or ignore me. What right do I have to tell you to do anything, sitting here in my petrostate ivory tower? We foreigners have all stopped caring about your gun-fetish mass-casualty insanity, except inasmuch as it now informs our cost/benefit analysis when considering travel to your country.
If you didn't want to live this way, you'd DO something about it.